After leaving the valley, Jiang Li ventured deeper into the secret realm alone.
The fog here was much thicker than in the outer ring, with visibility less than three zhang (approximately 10 meters). The stone path underfoot was covered in moss, and faint runes remained in the cracks, like fragments of some ancient restriction. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the sound of one's own footsteps echoing in the fog. Occasionally, the "clatter" of chains being dragged could be heard in the distance, whether it was an illusion or something truly lurking in the shadows.
She followed the faint "imperial aura" she sensed as she walked forward. The deeper she went, the heavier the sense of vicissitude in the air became, as if every inch of the land was covered with the dust of countless ages.
After walking for about an hour, the fog suddenly thinned out, and a solitary stone house appeared ahead.
The stone house was dilapidated, with half of the roof collapsed. Dark green vines climbed the corners of the walls, and strangely, small blood-red flowers bloomed on the vines, eerie and alluring. Most striking was a skeleton locked to a stone pillar in the very center of the house—the skeleton wore tattered golden armor, covered with sword and knife wounds, clearly indicating that it had experienced a brutal battle in life.
The skeleton was bound by a thick black chain. The chain was engraved with mysterious runes, which shimmered with a dark purple light and emitted a chilling oppressive force. Even Jiang Li and others felt their spiritual energy flow become sluggish when they approached, as if they were being choked by an invisible force.
"Such powerful restrictive chains..." Jiang Li frowned. These chains were no ordinary objects; they were probably the "God-Locking Chains" used in ancient times to suppress powerful individuals.
Just as she was examining the skeleton, a pale golden remnant soul suddenly floated up from its eye socket. The remnant soul was very weak, only the size of a palm, but it carried an indomitable fighting spirit. The moment it saw Jiang Li, the remnant soul trembled violently, as if it had seen the most unbelievable sight of its life.
"This...this aura...is...is His Majesty?!" The remnant soul's voice trembled violently, almost incoherently, "Your subordinate...your subordinate Zhang Kui pays respects to His Majesty!"
Jiang Li shuddered and looked sharply at the remnant soul.
Zhang Kui?
The name struck her mind like a bolt of lightning—it was the "Golden Armored War God" under the Empress in her previous life. Back then, in order to protect her breakout, he led three thousand personal guards to block a million enemy troops, and finally died from exhaustion, leaving no trace of his body!
"Zhang Kui..." Jiang Li's voice trembled slightly, and a complex mix of emotions flashed in her eyes—shock, grief, and a hint of excitement at a long-awaited reunion. "Is it really you?"
"It's me! It really is me!" The remnant soul spun around excitedly, its pale golden soul body shimmering. "Your Majesty, you...you've been reincarnated? I knew you wouldn't just perish like this!"
Jiang Li walked to the stone pillar, looked at the withered bones chained together, and then at the weak, lingering soul. Her heart ached: "How did you end up locked up here?"
Zhang Kui's remnant soul dimmed slightly, his tone filled with deep-seated hatred and sorrow: "Back then... in the Great War of the Nine Heavens, we were defeated."
"When the enemy forces breached the imperial palace, I protected a wisp of your remnant soul as I rushed out, but I was betrayed by a traitor and cast down to the mortal realm. I risked my life to send your remnant soul away, but I myself was bound by the enemy's 'God-Locking Chains' and imprisoned in this Dragon-Locking Secret Realm, suffering the torment of the chains corroding my soul every day..."
“Three thousand guards… all dead…” The remnant soul’s voice choked with sobs, “They cried out ‘Protect Your Majesty!’ until their dying breaths… but your subordinate was powerless, unable to protect you, unable to protect them…”
Jiang Li clenched her fingers tightly, her nails digging into her palms.
The brutality of the Nine Heavens Battle was a blur in her memory after her reincarnation, but from Zhang Kui's words, she could almost see the battlefield where blood flowed like rivers, hear the last roars of her guards, and feel the despair of being powerless to turn the tide.
"I've wronged them." Jiang Li's voice was low, carrying a hint of imperial authority that she herself didn't even realize. "If I hadn't made that wrong decision back then, none of this would have happened..."
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Kui interrupted her, his tone urgent, "You have never been wrong! It is the enemy that is too despicable, and the traitors that are too shameless! We, your subordinates, are willing to die to follow Your Majesty in conquering the heavens!"
His remnant soul rushed towards the God-Locking Chains, but was bounced back by the runes on the chains, making his soul even weaker: "These God-Locking Chains are ancient evil artifacts that can suppress the soul. My remnant soul won't last much longer... Your Majesty, your cultivation is too low right now. Please don't touch these chains, or you will suffer a backlash!"
Jiang Li looked at the chains that shimmered with dark purple light, then at the weakened Zhang Kui, took a deep breath, and a resolute light flashed in her eyes.
"Zhang Kui, wait for me."
Her voice was clear and firm, carrying an undeniable power, as if she were still the empress who commanded the heavens back then: "When my cultivation is sufficient, I will definitely come back to shatter these God-Locking Chains and rescue you."
"At that time, I will gather my old troops, regroup, and fight again in the heavens to break the cage of this world."
"This time, I will not lose again."
"Those traitors, those enemies, I will settle accounts with them one by one."
"Your blood and the blood of your three thousand guards will not have been shed in vain."
Zhang Kui's remnant soul stared blankly at her, at the familiar sharpness and determination in her eyes that belonged to the Empress. His pale golden soul trembled violently, as if excited, or as if in awe.
"Your subordinate... awaits Your Majesty!" Zhang Kui kowtowed heavily, his voice filled with tearful loyalty, "Your subordinate awaits you in this secret realm, awaits you to restore your imperial might, awaits you... to pacify the nine heavens!"
"We have always firmly believed that Your Majesty will return, you will! We have been waiting for you. We believe in Your Majesty, that you will return and lead us to conquer the heavens once more."
Jiang Li took one last look at the locked skeleton, then turned and resolutely walked out of the stone house.
The mist enveloped the stone house once more, with only the clanging of the chains binding the gods and the low, hopeful sobs of the remnant soul echoing deep within the secret realm.
Jiang Li walked through the mist, her red dress gleaming brightly in the dim light. She gripped the rusty iron sword at her waist, her spiritual energy surging slightly with excitement.
For the first time since her reincarnation, she felt "responsibility" and "mission" so clearly.
It wasn't just for herself, but also for the souls of those who followed her and died fighting for her.
“Nine Heavens…” Jiang Li looked up at the sky above the secret realm, as if she could see through the mist and into the distant heavens. “Wait for me.”
Her pace quickened as she ventured deeper into the secret realm—she needed to grow stronger faster and find more opportunities to aid her recovery.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhou was lying in a rocking chair, yawning, and thinking to himself: Have these two little guys had enough of exploring the secret realm? If they don't come back soon, his artificial rockery ornaments will go moldy.
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